FAQs About HIV and Being pregnant

Can I get pregnant if I’ve HIV?

Sure, you’ll be able to. Nevertheless it’s preferrred to speak together with your HIV specialist earlier than you get pregnant. This might help ensure you’re at your healthiest earlier than getting pregnant, permit for any medicine changes, and assist maintain you from transmitting HIV to your child.

After all, shock pregnancies can occur, so for those who discover out you’re pregnant, let your healthcare supplier know as quickly as doable.

So long as you might be on medicines for HIV and your viral load stays undetectable, your probabilities of transmitting HIV to your child could be lower than 1%. An undetectable viral load means the quantity of HIV virus in your blood is so low {that a} lab take a look at can’t choose up the virus.

Being pregnant at age 35 or older (referred to as superior maternal age or geriatric being pregnant) comes with sure well being dangers in comparison with individuals below age 35 no matter your HIV standing, together with:

The analysis is proscribed on those that live with HIV and are pregnant over age 35, however it’s doable that there could also be larger dangers.

Can I proceed HIV medicines whereas pregnant?

Sure, you’ll be able to and, in actual fact, it is best to. It’s necessary to take HIV medicines whereas pregnant to assist shield each your well being and the well being of your child. This may vastly scale back the probabilities of transmitting HIV to your child.

Don’t skip doses and take your medicines on the identical time each day to maintain your viral load as little as doable.

Lots of the medicines for HIV are considered protected to take once you’re pregnant. However, relying on what you are taking and the way far alongside you might be in your being pregnant, your healthcare supplier may recommend you alter up a number of the HIV medicines you’re at the moment taking for those who do turn out to be pregnant. It’s necessary to speak to your healthcare supplier to search out out what the professionals and cons of the doable medicines are.

What are the dangers to the infant if I’m dwelling with HIV?

Most infants who get HIV, get the virus throughout supply. When you’re having a vaginal start, your healthcare supplier might offer you medicines via an IV (intravenous) line that may decrease the probabilities of transmitting the virus to your child. In case your viral load is excessive, you might need a cesarean part and get IV medicine. This might help lower the danger of transmission.

HIV may also cross via the placenta and infect the infant in utero. However, for those who proceed to take your HIV medicines as directed all through your being pregnant, labor and supply, and provides your child HIV medicines for 2 to 6 weeks after they’re born, your child has lower than a 1% probability of getting HIV.

Research have proven that girls who’re dwelling with HIV are as much as two to 3 instances extra prone to have being pregnant issues than HIV-negative ladies. These issues can occur even when the HIV-positive ladies are taking antiretroviral remedy (ART). Doable issues embrace:

• Miscarriage or stillbirth
• Having a child who’s born with a low start weight
• Preterm, or very early, supply

Can I breastfeed if I’ve HIV?

You possibly can select to feed your child your milk via breastfeeding, chestfeeding or pumping with a higher than 99% probability of not transmitting HIV if you’re on HIV medicines and your viral load is undetectable. The professionals and cons must be mentioned together with your key members of the family and your HIV specialist to make the most effective choice for you and your child.

In case you are on ART, the World Well being Group steerage for breastfeeding is similar as for people who find themselves not dwelling with HIV.

Can I take PrEP whereas pregnant or breastfeeding?

It’s protected to take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding to forestall HIV transmission. PrEP is most secure when taken as a each day tablet as a result of PrEP injections aren’t authorized in being pregnant.

PrEP is taken by individuals who don’t have HIV however are at excessive threat. You may wish to take PrEP when you’ve got a associate who resides with HIV, have or have had unprotected intercourse, or share or have shared needles throughout injected drug use.

In case your associate has HIV, it’s additionally a good suggestion to check actually because the danger of transmitting the virus to your child is highest for those who get the virus throughout being pregnant or whereas breastfeeding.

Will I be thought of a high-risk being pregnant and want extra physician appointments?

Sure, your being pregnant will probably be thought of excessive threat as a result of dwelling with HIV can put you at an elevated probability of being pregnant issues, equivalent to miscarriage, stillbirth and low start weight. And you should have extra appointments as a result of you’ll need to see your HIV staff in addition to your OB staff. Your healthcare staff, together with your HIV specialists and your OB or midwife, will wish to monitor you extra intently so as to plan for a wholesome start and keep away from issues. They’ll verify routine prenatal labs like your kidney and liver well being, iron ranges, blood sugar and likewise how effectively the HIV medicines are working.

You additionally may be provided sure vaccinations equivalent to influenza, Tdap, RSV, Covid-19, pneumococcal and hepatitis A and B if wanted.

We’ve come a great distance, and it’s not solely doable however doubtless that your child will probably be born with out HIV. Discuss together with your healthcare staff about how one can have the healthiest being pregnant doable whereas dwelling with HIV.